Scarlets claimed their first win at Murrayfield in eight long years, holding on in a thrilling finale to take a crucial step towards European Champions Cup qualification for next season.

In a nail-biting final few minutes, spearheaded by player-of-the-match Sione Kalamafoni, Scarlets put in an incredible defensive effort to keep Edinburgh at bay.

It was a breathless Conference B encounter with both sides enjoying the glorious sun-kissed conditions in the Scottish capital.

With head coach Richard Cockerill describing the match as ‘must-win’ for his side, Edinburgh were out of the blocks first, making the most of Scarlets ill-discipline to cross for the game’s first try after just three minutes through lock Magnus Bradbury.

Fly-half Dan Jones responded with a penalty for the visitors only for opposite number Jaco van der Walt to hit straight back with three points of his own.

The Scarlets, though, were showing plenty of invention to their attacking play and sliced open the hosts with a superbly-crafted try on 17 minutes.

A move straight off the training field saw wing Tom Prydie burst through on an inside pass from Dane Blacker; he then fed Tyler Morgan on a scything line to the posts for the score. The officials did take a look at the final pass, but the score stood and Jones added the conversion to tie things up.

The impressive van der Walt added another penalty on 25 minutes, but back came the Scarlets with another try for the season’s highlights reel.

Swift hands from the outstanding Uzair Cassiem and Sam Lousi put the dangerous Johnny McNicholl into space and the full-back put his foot to the pedal to outstrip the cover and dive over in the corner for a try converted brilliantly from the touchline by Jones.

There was still more to come in a hugely entertaining first half as Edinburgh struck back at the end of a lung-bursting period of play through Scotland international wing Darcy Graham.

Trailing 20-17 at the break, the Scarlets weren’t behind for long.

Less than two minutes after the restart, a loose ball was pounced on by Steff Evans, he hacked through and out of nowhere, scrum-half Blacker snaffled up the bouncing ball to cross for his fifth try of the campaign.

Jones landed the extras and a penalty to push the score out to 27-20, but a 60th minute try from an Edinburgh line-out rumble by replacement hooker Dave Cherry set up a gripping finish.

With five minutes left on the clock, van der Walt had a chance to win it, but was wide with a long-range penalty attempt; then Edinburgh searched for the winning score with phase after phase of attacks.

Graham looked like snatching it, but the Scarlets cover got across to halt the speedster, turned over possession and were able to boot the ball into the empty Murrayfield stands to end the contest.

The win cements the Scarlets’ place in third spot in Conference B, putting them in pole position to secure a place in next season’s Champions Cup with only two matches remaining.